January 28, 2026
High Plains Community Health Center in Lamar, Colorado, a proud member of the Carina Health Network, is demonstrating the life-saving power of preventive care through its enhanced Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) program.
Increasing AWV completion is a key value-based care priority across our network. Unlike acute or problem-focused visits, AWVs create dedicated space to focus on prevention, strengthen the provider-patient relationship, and take a comprehensive look at a patient’s overall health. During an AWV, care teams can fully address preventive screenings, document and manage chronic conditions, clean up problem lists, recapture risk-adjusting (HCC) codes, close quality care gaps, and identify patients who may benefit from additional support such as care management services. AWVs also increase patient engagement by encouraging collaboration, education, and shared goal setting.
In 2025 alone, High Plains rendered more than 150 AWVs. During these visits, providers assessed each patient’s health risks and personal goals and worked with them to develop individualized health plans. As a result of this proactive approach, two patients were identified as needing screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). While AAA screening is not standard for every patient, it was clinically appropriate based on these patients’ age and risk factors.
Both patients screened positive for AAA, a condition that is often silent until it becomes life-threatening. Because the disease was identified early through the AWV process, the patients were referred for appropriate treatment and can now manage their risk factors to avoid complications that could lead to hospitalization or death.
High Plains’ experience is a powerful example of how AWVs support better outcomes, advance value-based care goals, and ultimately save lives.
Resources for Members
Members can log in to the Member Area of the Carina Health Network website to download the 2026 Annual Wellness Visit Playbook under the Guides & Tools tab for practical strategies to support and scale AWVs at their health center.
